The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. said it plans tolower auto insurance rates for many of its personal auto insurancepolicyholders under the Dimensions program, sold through thecarrier's independent agents network.

The Hartford, Conn.-based carrier said the lower prices wouldaffect approximately one-third of existing and prospectivecustomers. Policyholders would see an annual savings of $100 ormore for 25 percent of these reduced-price customers. The changeswill become effective Feb. 15 for new policies and April 5 forrenewal business.

“The auto insurance market is extremely competitive, and we'reconstantly reviewing our rates to remain a top player in thestate,” said Mike Concannon, senior vice president, The Hartford.“While Dimensions is already a huge success, we're thrilled to beoffering it at even lower prices. This will certainly give our 117personal lines agents in Indiana one more reason to quote TheHartford.”

The Dimension program rates policyholders individually bycalculating numerous risk factors. The system allows the insurer torate one policyholder without affecting the rates of others in thesame household.

The Hartford said this is the third time in the past year it hasvoluntarily lowered personal auto insurance prices in Indiana.During that same period, the company went on to say, it has alsogrown the number of its agency relationships from 71 to 117.